The Pick-Me-Up That's Better Than Coffee (VIDEO)

Gum doesn't just refresh your breath -- it can also revitalize your body. In a 2012 study from the UK, people who chewed gum for 15 minutes felt more alert than those who didn't pop a piece. "Chewing gum increases heart rate, which increases blood flow to the brain," says study author Andy Smith, Ph.D. "It also stimulates the autonomic nervous system, which can increase alertness." Pick a mint-flavored pack: "Mint stimulates your nerve fibers -- it's kind of like splashing cold water on your face," says Teitelbaum.

Carbs = crash, right? Yes -- but only if you eat the stripped-down kind that modern foods favor. "White flour will give you a boost, but then a crash so you feel sluggish," says Teitelbaum. "But whole grains give you real energy." In fact, people who replaced three servings of refined carbs with who...